NRL 2021 Grand Final

[theshed]

They're not gifted advantages. Every team has the same opportunity, nobody can keep it up at the pace Penrith can because they have the best kicking game in the competition and the best back three at making metres out of trouble. Souths had every opportunity to bend the rules and they couldn't because they were too exhausted.

I think that was the biggest point of difference. South’s back 3 can’t make metres into kick returns and Panthers backs are the best at it. This resulted in south’s rarely getting within the Panthers 40.

 

[Lockysillegitimatechild]

Not when they are the most supported club in the country (1.2 M supporters)

More than even the Swans.

Melbourne Storm Named Australia’s Most Supported Club - Ministry of Sport

The latest Roy Morgan report has revealed the Melbourne Storm as Australia’s most supported club in 2021 with 1.2 million supporters.

www.google.com

$$

Roy Morgan staff 1: "should we make the criteria for a fan that they can name 2 current players and they watched a game within the past 5 years that wasn't a grand final?"...
Roy Morgan staff number 2: "na mate! That will rule out all the AFL clubs in half the country and NRL clubs in the other half! That's no fun"....

 

[Sproj]

Roy Morgan staff 1: "should we make the criteria for a fan that they can name 2 current players and they watched a game within the past 5 years that wasn't a grand final?"...
Roy Morgan staff number 2: "na mate! That will rule out all the AFL clubs in half the country and NRL clubs in the other half! That's no fun"....

NRL Quiz for Storm fans: 'Name your favourite two current players'.

Storm fans: 'Cameron Smith and Cooper Slater.'

 

[mrslong]

Cleary was something else last night tho.
Is a talented player.

 

[Super Freak]

Cleary was something else last night tho.
Is a talented player.

Yeah he deserved the Clive Churchill medal.

There was no kick pressure from Souths and that just allowed him to execute his kicking game to perfection. It took Souths out of the contest.

 

[Footy Fanatic]

Yeah he deserved the Clive Churchill medal.

There was no kick pressure from Souths and that just allowed him to execute his kicking game to perfection. It took Souths out of the contest.

I don't think he deserved it all. He was also the reason Souths were in the game as he was at the one Walker fended to get the through the line. He was definitely solid, but not great.

Burton, Luai and Yeo were all better.

 

[IceWorks]

Impressed Souths made it that close. They were missing Latrell, Taafe looks like a good young talent but he was rag dolled a lot.

Cleary could have been kicking in a business suit for the amount of pressure he had placed on him.

Capewell.... seems like he is always there in defence when needed.. good recruit for the Broncs.

So good to see real football, and not be talking about the ref.. How about they play that version of the game the rest of the year?

Did anyone notice the look on JD's face when old Wayne left the box a set early!? I mean they are likely to lose at that point but still a miracle play might happen, maybe that's just his go? He certainly seems worse at stifling the smiles in the box for the cameras the old goat.

Penrith looked beatable, I think the Storm have to be kicking themselves.. which is a nice thought :)

 

[Browny]

What’s with the South’s winger, took every hit up like a cat

 

[Big Pete]

If the NRL were genuine about it they would have weathered the media crusade a couple of years ago and upheld their foul play crackdown.

For starters that was a different administration.

Also that period is looked back on with rose coloured glasses. The intention was great but the application was terrible and often calls would only get made to bail teams out. There were so many occasions where a team would drop the ball cold in the centre of the field only to receive a penalty because the winger was half a fraction in front. It had no bearing on the play and it would have been let go if the mistake didn't occur but that's the way they ruled it.

The set restarts are problematic but not in the way you're suggesting. The officials are very hesitant to blow them and will generally only concede the ones the defence is happy to give away. It's a broken system but if anything they're minimising the officials influence on the game.

 

[Super Freak]

I'm sorry, but I really did call it last year because Penrith have clearly had every advantage given to them throughout the 2 seasons. It's only subtle and small things but they are still things that matter. For example, in the final real attacking set for Souths there was a blatant flop from To'o that was completely ignored, then the pass from Walker was touched and bumped into touch by Cleary and the call was out off Souths and not played at.

It was pretty obvious that Penrith were pencilled in to win the GF this year.

Are you referring to when Murray made that break? That was Luai and really there was nothing in it. Murray was still sliding along the ground and could have broken free of the tackle so he's come in to assist and as he lands on him, he gets up straight away. The tackle hadn't been completed and it doesn't affect Murray's ability to get a quick play the ball.

It's something you see every game all throughout the year. It's not some special exception the ref made for the Panthers. It happens in every game.

As for the Cleary touch. He does actually touch it with his fingertips. However, his fingertips come off the ball before Walker releases it. Cleary's wrist knocking his arm is what actually causes the pass to hit the ground and go out.

 

[Organix]

Are you referring to when Murray made that break? That was Luai and really there was nothing in it. Murray was still sliding along the ground and could have broken free of the tackle so he's come in to assist and as he lands on him, he gets up straight away. The tackle hadn't been completed and it doesn't affect Murray's ability to get a quick play the ball.

It's something you see every game all throughout the year. It's not some special exception the ref made for the Panthers. It happens in every game.

As for the Cleary touch. He does actually touch it with his fingertips. However, his fingertips come off the ball before Walker releases it. Cleary's wrist knocking his arm is what actually causes the pass to hit the ground and go out.

Oops, yeah Luai, my bad. I have no love for the Panthers.

That was a textbook flop and both incidents make precisely my point regarding the Panthers. They typically get the call in their favour, whereas the Broncos do not.

It happened throughout the last 2 seasons and served to give a young Panthers team a lot of confidence to grow, in comparison to the mental train wreck that became the young Broncos.